Coupling for hydraulic brakes



March 22-, 1938. o. P. DI GIOVANNI COUPLING FOR HYDRAULIC BRAKES Filed Feb. 8, 1937 ATTORNEY ing each of the separable fittings,

' separable fittings, the

Patented Mar. 22, i938 PATENT OFFICE.

2,112,146 COUPLING non name enemas ammo r. HliGio, Brooklyn, N.- Y,

Application February 8, 1937, Serial No. 124,732

Claims.

The present invention relates to pipe couplings for the Joining of pressure fluid conveying conduits and more particularly to such devices for use in the coupling of hydraulic brake lines or the like. I

The invention is particularly applicable'to vehicles equipped with a hydraulic brake system,

the same being employed in the coupling of anauxiliary brake system such as that of a vehicle trailer, the device being adapted to effect the mentioned coupling without the loss of any brake fluid from the lines. a

The general object oi the invention resides in the provision of a pair of separable attachmentto the respective ends of a hydraulic brake pipe, each 01' the fittings being equipped with valve elements so arranged as ,to permit the making of the coupling without rele any of the fluid out of the pipe lines.

A further object is the character indicated including valves for closthe coupling ends and the mentionedvalves being soformed as to expel all air from the coupling during the making ofv the some, thereby obviating the admission of any mr into the brake lines.

V Another object of the invention is to provide in a hydraulic brake line coupling device, valve operating means for opening the valves oi'the operating means being adapted to form a positive closure in fully opened or closed position oi the valvsthereby avoiding catodiamm ior any i'urther leakage oi the fluid through the housing oiithe device, 1 v

A still iurther object is to incorporate in a brakel fjline coupling device of the character indithebroke lines. the mentioned means being operable byythe means directed to the operation oi the time valves-.1-

The invention. wiiiabe iully and comprehensively understood ironinjoonsideration oi the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part oithe application. a

in the drawing, v

Figure 1 is aside elevational view of one or the i'ittings'ccmprising the separable coupling,

- a portion thereof being broken away in central section;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating the oomplemental fitting of the separable coupling, a portion of same being broken away in central section; and

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional ,view

fittin s for to provide a coupling of i marily for the bleeding any entrapped air in through the entire coupling device, the separable fittings being coupled together in readiness for use in transmitting brake fluid therethrough. Reference is now had to the accompanying drawing for a more detailed description thereof, in which the numeral 4 indicates the upper oi a pair of separable fittings, the numeral 5 indicating the lower fitting, each of the mentioned fittings being adapted to be coupled together at their abutting ends by suitable means suclnas by a union coupling 6, illustrated in Figure 3. The fitting 8 is provided with a branch connection I extending preferably downwardly therefrom and adapted to be connected to a hydraulic pipe end by suitable means such as the threaded end 8. The fitting 5 is likewise adapted to receive at its threaded end 9 another pipe end to be coupled. In the use of the device as aforementioned, in' the coupling of a trailer brake system to that of a vehicle, the vehicle brake line is connected to the branch I of the fitting 4 and the trailer brake line is. connected to the threaded end 9 oil the fitting 6. The joining of the two brake systems to be operated in unison is efiected by connect- ,ing-the fittings 6 and d at their abutting ends such as by making up the coupling 8. The 5 coupling 8 is effected preferably by threading the end Ill of the fitting 4 to receive thereon a. threaded collar ii rotatably carried on the fitting The body I is provided with an end member I2 including the threaded portion l0 thereon, the member l2 being detachable from the body pri- P pose of assembling the parts constituting the interior mechanism. axial end oi the member-l2 is formed a valve seat defining an aperture it. the valve seat being adapted to receive thereon a valve H to close I the aperture IS. The valve i4 is preferably arranged toopen outwardly from the member i2 40 and is carried on a valvestem i5, being urged by a spring It to closed position. The free end of the valve stem i5 carries a guide disk ll open at its intermediate area to permit the passage oi fluid therethroug end slidably engages the interior of the member II.

The body oi theffltting B, at its axial en is likewise provided with an aperture II bordered by a valve seat adapted to receive thereon a valve IS, the valve being carried on a valve stem 29 slidably retained in a valve guide 2| including 7 radial arms '22 projecting therefrom and having their free ends suitably secured to the fitting 5-. The valve I8 is urged to close the aperture l8 by a suitable spring backed on the arms 22 and engaging the inner side of the valve 19.

It will be noted that the valve 19 is adapted to open inwardly in contrast to the outward opening-of the valve 14 which, being made of a slightly smaller diameter than valve 19, is therefore adapted to pass through the aperture 13 during its opening movement and thereby coactively open the valve l9.

As aforeindicated, one of the features embodied in the invention assures the exclusion of air or other foreign gaseous matter between the free ends of the fittings 4 and 5 so that upon completion of the coupling of these fittings, the transmission of fluid therethrough may be effected without admission of air into the line. To accomplish this effect the axial ends of each of the fittings 4 and 5 together with the respective valves l4 and 19 associated therewith, form substantially fiat surfaces adapted to intimately enage each other to exclude all air therebetween. Although it is preferred to form the mentioned fitting ends in a substantially fiat surface, it will be apparent that these surfaces maybe otherwise formed to present complementarily registering surfaces, such for example as convex and concave I formations.

By joint reference to Figures 1 and 2 it will be observed that the respective valves of the fittings 4 and 5 are yleldably held in closed position while the ends of the fittings are uncoupled. In this manner the fluid under pressure within the pipe lines terminated by the respective fittings is retained therein without chance of leakage. Upon completion of the coupling effecting the joining of the fittings 4 and 5 as illustrated in Figure 3, the valves [4 and I9 are coactively opened by actuating one of the mentioned valves. In the preferred arrangement the operation of valve 14 serves to open both valves in that same is disposed to abut the valve 19 so as to push same to open position, a suitable means being provided for engagement with the valve stem l5 to actuate the valves.

Preferably a spindle 24 is provided, the same being adapted to have its free end abut the valve stem 15, the spindle 24 being slidably and rotatably carried in the body of the fitting 4. The fitting 4 has formed .therein intermediate its ends, apartition 25 thereby dividing the interior of the fitting 4 into a chamber 26, in which the mechanism associated with the valve 14 is housed, and a reservoir 21 at the opposite end of the fitting 4. The partition 25 has a threaded bore axially disposed therein in which is engaged a threaded portion 28 intermediate the spindle 24, the latter extending through a cap 29 and terminating in a key end 30 to receive a suitable tool for rotating the spindle 24. The cap 29 includes a packing gland 3| forming the slide bearing for the spindle 24.

At each end of the partition 25 and adjacent the respective chambers 26 and 21 are provided valve seats 32 and 33 in which may engage corresponding opposed valves 34 and 35 carried on the spindle 24.

It is to be noted here that upon rotation of the spindle 24, the action of the threaded portion 28 serves to move the spindle axially to open the valve 14, the threaded portion 28 being of ample length to permit sufiicient axial movement. In either extreme position of the spindle 24 the valves 34 or 35 will engage their respective seats 32 or 33 to positively close the threaded bore of the partition 25 against passage of fluid therethrough.

As aforementioned, the device'may be employed to accomplish the bleeding or venting of entrapped air from the brake lines, in which instance the reservoir 21 is effective. For use of the device in this manner it is desirable to mount the fitting 4 so that its axis is substantially vertical with the branch 1 thereof directed downwardly. In such arrangement the reservoir 21 will assume an elevated position with reference to the associated brake pipe lines since same is superimposed upon the fitting 4. It may be assumed that either valve 34 or 35 is normally closed and when it is desired to release entrapped air it will be observed that such air will rise to a region below the partition 25 which has one or more ports 36 extending therethrough, the mentioned ports terminating at each end in the respective valve" seats 32 and 33 to be closed by either valve 34 or 35. Regardless of which of the mentioned valves is closed, in order to vent the air below the partition 25 it will be seen that by merely initially opening the proper valve that the entrapped air will pass through the ports 33 into the reservoir 21 and thus to the atmosphere through a vent pole 31. The brake fluid within the reservoir 21 will thus displace the entrapped air after which the valve 34 or 35 is closed, leaving the brake system in readiness for use.

It is of course desired to efiect the bleeding of the entire brake system while the fittings 4 and 5 are coupled. It will however be noted that the brake line connected to the fitting 4 may be bleeded independent of the line connected to the fitting 5 while the union 6 is uncoupled since the spindle 24 is of such length as to permit the initial opening of the valve 34 without operation of the valve 14.

It is to be understood that this improvement a. valve in said first fitting arranged to open out- 6,

wardly thereof, a valve in said second fitting arranged to open inwardly thereof, said first valve being adapted to engage said second valve for actuating same, and operating means for said first fitting valve, said fittings and the valves thereof being arranged to form a complete contact at their adjoining surfaces so as todisplace all voids therebetween, said valve operating means comprising a stem threadedly engaging said first fitting and having the end thereof adapted to abut said first valve to open same.

2. A coupling device of the character described comprising a pair of separable fittings adapted to form the terminal ends of pipes to be coupled, means for joining said fittings, openable closuremeans in each fitting, each of said closure means being yieldably held in closed position and adapted to abut each other for move ment in unison, one of said fittings including a body portion having a partition therein, a valve stem threadedly engaged in said partition for opening said closure means, and opposed valves carried on said stem'and adapted to engage the respective walls of said partition.

3. A coupling device of the character described body portion and 9.

comprising a pair of separable fittings adapted to form the terminal end of a pair of pipes to be coupled, means for joining said fittings, openable closure means in each fitting, each of said closure means being yieldably held in closed position and adapted to abut each other for movement in unison, one ofsaid fittings including a same into a valve chamber and a reservoir, a valve stem threadedly engaged in said partition for opening said closure means, and opposed valves carried on said stem and adapted to engage the respective; walls of said partition, said partition having a port therethru communicating between said valve chamber and said reservoir and adapted to be closed at either end by said opposed valves.

4. A coupling device of the character described comprising a first fitting and a second fitting each adapted toform the terminal end of a pair of pipes to be coupled, means for joining said fittings, a valve in said first fitting arranged to open outwardly thereof, a valve in said second fitting arranged to openinwardly thereof, said first valve being adapted to engage said second valve for actuating same, and operating means for said first fitting valve, said fittings and the partition therein dividingreservoir and adapted valves thereof being arranged to form a complete contact at their adjoining. surfaces so as to dis I place all voids therebetween, one of said fittings including a. body portion having a partition therein dividing same into a valve chamber and a reservoir, a valve stem threadedly engaged in said partition for opening said valves, and opposed valves carried on said stem and adapted to engage the respective walls of said partition, said partition having a port therethru communicating between said valve chamber and said to be closed at either end by said opposed valves.

5. A coupling device of the charactertdescribed comprising a pair of separable fittings adapted to form the terminal ends of pipes to be coupled, means for joining said fittings, .openable closure means in each fitting, each of said closure means being yieldably'held in closed position and adapted to abut each other for movement in unison, one of said fittings including a body portion having a partition therein, a valve stem threadedly engaged in said partition for opening said closure means, and valve surfaces on said stem adapted to engage the respective walls of said partition.

\ ONOFRIO P. DI GIOVANNI. 

